BOO! to you

Happy Halloween!

From Wikipedia: Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the celtic festival of Samhain or Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)", which is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end". A similar festival was held by the ancient Britons and is known as Calan Gaeaf (pronounced kalan-geyf).

The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half", and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". The celebration has some elements of a festival of the dead. The ancient Celts believed that the border between this world and the Otherworld became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmless and harmful) to pass through. The family's ancestors were honoured and invited home whilst harmful spirits were warded off. It is believed that the need to ward off harmful spirits led to the wearing of costumes and masks. Their purpose was to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit and thus avoid harm. In Scotland the spirits were impersonated by young men dressed in white with masked, veiled or blackened faces. Samhain was also a time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. Bonfires played a large part in the festivities. All other fires were doused and each home lit their hearth from the bonfire. The bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames. Sometimes two bonfires would be built side-by-side, and people and their livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual.
Another common practise was divination, which often involved the use of food and drink.
The name 'Halloween' and many of its present-day traditions derive from the Old English era.

View from my window

Why yes, I did notice the wasp at the top of the window frame.

That was actually what drew my view towards the window.

I looked up as I saw him fly in and land, and was struck by what

a beautiful view it was in the late fall afternoon... and I smiled.

Happy Friday to all.

"Clouds come floating into my life,

no longer to carry rain or usher storm,

but to add color to my sunset sky."

---Rabindranath Tagore

Ladybug Picnic Time

Oh, my! Yesterday, I noticed the ladybugs are coming in by the droves to land on the side porch, and anything else, like my white sweatshirt, that looked appealing. I Googled to find out about this yearly invasion, and found the information below. I like ladybugs, as they are beneficial bugs that eat aphids, but I do hope they find someplace else to hibernate in these numbers!

'Tis the season! Ladybugs are looking for a place to hibernate. They are attracted to light colored homes, usually older homes and they are attracted to heat that the homes reflect. Once ladybugs have penetrated the home though, they are hard to get rid of.

Ladybugs release pheromones, it is sort of like "perfume" to attract other ladybugs. They use pheromones as a means of communication during mating and hibernation. Insect pheromones are very powerful. They can be detected by others up to a 1/4 mile away. This helps ladybugs find each other and it lets future generations know of a good place to "camp out" for the winter. The pheromones don't go away easily. The chemical "scent" can remain year after year, and not only on the outside of a structure, but also within the walls, where ladybugs tend to hide before emerging into your home. So, scrubbing pheromones off a house is a BIG task, if not impossible.

The yellow stuff you might see from time to time is their blood (hemolymph). It, too, contains pheromones and it stains. You can see the yellow blood when you hold a ladybug and it gets scared. This is a normal reaction to stressful situations called reflex bleeding. Releasing some of its blood is one way the ladybug can protect itself. The blood smells bad and signals to a predator that this ladybug is not a good lunch choice.

To prevent ladybugs from getting in, make sure all cracks around windows, doors, clap boards, pipes, etc. are sealed up.

Stepping back in time

Did you guess? Laura recently went there and has been sharing her experiences on her blog, which got me to thinking this might be the perfect anniversary getaway! Thanks Laura! I am so excited at the prospect. We'll probably wait until spring break in April to go, so the weather will be a bit nicer.

Here is a synopsis of the island, compiled from several sources, along with photos, on the web:

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cumberland Island was the 19th century retreat of Thomas and Lucy Carnegie who, in 1900, built Greyfield for their daughter, Margaret Ricketson. Converted to an inn during 1962 by her daughter, Lucy R. Ferguson, and family - who oversee the daily operation - Greyfield Inn exudes the welcoming atmosphere and charm of a family home.

Cumberland Island is the largest and southernmost of the Georgia Sea Islands perfect for your getaway vacation or even a honeymoon getaway. Located about 10 miles southeast of Brunswick, Georgia, adjacent to Jekyll Island, Cumberland is bordered by St. Andrews Sound on the north, Amelia Island, Florida to the south, and on the west by Cumberland Sound and the Cumberland River, part of the Intracoastal Waterway. Easily accessible to the ports of Fernandina Beach, Florida and St. Marys, Georgia, Cumberland is a mere 40 minute boat ride through sweeping vistas of lush coastal lowlands, a rich and scenic wildlife habitat.

Separated from the mainland by salt marsh, river and sound, this island holds many natural treasures. The marsh is a home shared by fish, ducks, fiddler crabs, oysters and a great number of wading birds, including herons, egrets, ibis, wood storks and oyster catchers. The central island consists of dense palmetto stands and magnificent live oak trees, a lush habitat for armadillos, deer, raccoons, rabbits, wild turkeys, the wild horses and feral hogs. You will likely encounter many of these creatures on your walks on this treasure island.

Dungeness, on Cumberland Island, was built by Thomas Carnegie and his wife Lucy In 1884. The Carnegie Dungeness burned in the 1950's. Today, wild horses and other island wildlife roam freely throughout the ruins and along the beach. Glimpses of the Carnegie lifestyle can be easily imagined throughout the ruins of Dungeness, and through the abandoned luxury vehicles. The first Dungeness was built in 1783 by Nathanael Green. The Tabby House on the grounds of Dungeness was built for Revolutionary War Hero Nathaniel Greene's widow, Catherine.


Cumberland Island is one of a handful of places on the East Coast that are home to bands of feral horses. The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague off the coast of Virginia and Maryland are the best-known, popularized by the Misty books by Marguerite Henry which were published in the early 50s and still devoured by horse-crazy kids today. The horses on Cumberland Island may have similar ancestors to the Chincoteague/Assateague ponies, which are thought to have been either shipwrecked or abandoned there by Spanish explorers in the 1500s.

Anniversary Trip

Husband and I have been having this conversation for quite some time now...

He: "Well, our 20th will soon be here. I guess we should do/go someplace special."

Me: "Yes, we should!"

He: "Well, what sounds good to you?" (as he'd look at exotic locales/cruises etc.)

Me: "Hmmm.... we'll think on it."

Well, it's coming up February 9th. I know that's still a few months away,

but if we are nothing else, we are planners here. We've discussed all sorts

of potential plans. We really don't want to go anyplace way far away,

and would truly prefer to be able to drive.

That sort of narrowed things down a bit, hey?

Well, as the weeks have gone by, and we were not any closer to

figuring out what would be a neat way to celebrate, I came upon the

perfect answer! It's all Laura's fault. Yep, she recently took a trip, and has

been blogging about it bit by bit. It's secluded, it's private, it's romantic,

it includes a nature preserve for heaven's sake!

And, time has stood still there where the wild horses roam.

I got on-line and started reading about it, and knew it

would be the perfect getaway to celebrate our 20 years together....

Any guesses?

To be continued...

Tennessee River Gorge in Fall Splendor

Welcome to my Saturday view on the mountain....

No words are needed.

Just soak in the beauty.

Fall in full swing

Our trip up the mountain yesterday was rewarded

by standing in awe of the color around us...

Here is but a preview... I am still going through photos.

It was so gorgeous it felt rather sacred just to be standing there.

Beautiful World

I love Jim Brickman! I love his melodic style, and the easiness of his tunes. His new CD is out
and is appropriately called Beautiful World. Here is the title song, which just plain makes me smile.
Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend. We're off to see some gorgeous leaf color on the mountain!

Strawberry lips shining in the summer sun
Canary-tipped glowing there for everyone
You fell asleep under the cherry tree
La La La La La
It's a beautiful world we're all here

Your winter skin warming in the summer sun [summer sun]
We know within you will stay forever young [forever young]

You fell asleep under the solid sea
It's time to wake up
The moon is high above you
We're all here 'cause we love you
And when you finally open your eyes and ears
You'll see and you'll hear us sing

La La La La La
It's a beautiful world we're all here
La La La La La
It's a beautiful world we're all here
La La La La La
It's a beautiful world
It's a beautiful world

[NASA conversation]
Good morning Atlantis. And a special good morning today to you, Rex!
Good morning Shannon. Thanks for the music that's called "Dream Come True" by Jim Brickman
and doing a spacewalk is certainly a dream comes true.

You fell asleep under the solid sea
It's time to wake up
The moon is high above you
We're all here 'cause we love you
And when you finally open your eyes and ears
You'll see and you'll hear us sing

La La La La La
It's a beautiful world we're all here
La La La La La
It's a beautiful world we're all here
La La La La La
It's a beautiful world we're all here
La La La La La
It's a beautiful world [It's a beautiful world]
It's a beautiful world

Make it fun, and they will climb!

Got this in an email from my mom!
What a fun project... wouldn't you love to take these stairs?

H1N1 risk

Initially, I debated...

No one wants to get the flu.

I've only had it once, and truly wished I was gone I felt so very bad.

I always take the seasonal flu vaccine at work as I am a healthcare worker

and am exposed to many sick people. And, if I get the flu, I am also a risk

to those people I would care for as well.

There seemed to be so much hype about this new strain, but this I will say without hesitation:

This is the first wave of it, and this strain is behaving differently

from anything the CDC has seen before. Because a similar strain was

around back in the 1950's, older people seem to have some natural immunity.

Not so for younger people.

This mutated virus attacks the respiratory system so virulently in some people

that a resultant massive bacterial pneumonia ends up taking their lives.

This is nothing to mess around with my friends.

Want to take the chance that you or your kids will only get a mild case?

Tell that to Luke Duvall's parents.

Watch the video, and then make a decision about what you think is best for you and yours.

I took Sam to our Health Department yesterday to get the nasal mist.

There will be more waves of the virus, and each time, it will probably be more virulent.

Be smart, be safe, and never take your health for granted.

The Awakening

Way back in 2000, when I started "coming into my own," I received
this beautiful writing in an email. I've kept it tucked away in a folder
ever since, and came upon it the other day as I was cleaning out some
old emails and such. It so resonated with me then, and probably even
more so now. I do not know who the author was, but she was a very
wise woman indeed. I'd like to think I am so much more awake...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Awakening

A time comes in your life when you finally get it . . . When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are . . . and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop bitching and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and inthe process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear and where you should shop and what you should drive, how and where you should live and what you should do for a living, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything; it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship.

You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love . . . and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms just to make you happy.

And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely . . . And you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up." You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK . . .. And that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch . . . and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care of it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest.

And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn that for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve . . . and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all, FEAR. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms.

And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes-bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.

You learn those negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to trust and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want, as best as you can.

The fish pond

I was reading my favorite blogs the other day when I came upon this very fun fish pond on Jane's blog, I'm Downtown. I was giggling as I clicked my mouse and fed the fish on her sidebar. How fun!

So, off I went, Googling fish ponds for one's sidebar! I found this site where you can add as many fish as you want, choose their colors, the color of the water, and the color of the food. So many possibilities! I played around until I end up with 10 colorful fish in my pond. Visit them to the right on the sidebar and see if you don't have fun feeding them!

Just tweak it the way you want it and copy/paste the code to your template under "Add a Gadget" and then choosing "HTML/JavaScript." Go ahead. You know you want some fish of your own!

Welcome back little one

I've heard her outside my window in the mornings...
but had not seen her yet.
This weekend, I opened the kitchen blinds to a
lovely sight in the tree line.
My sweet Eastern Phoebe, who seems to be much
more visible to me in the fall and winter months.
As I watched that tail bob, I smiled.

Confusion in the garden

If you'll look above, you'll see our forecast for the next few days.
Then, you'll see what I mean by confusion.

As I was walking down in the garden area, a spot of
color caught my eye...

Huh?
Am I seeing what I think I am seeing?
Blooms on the Carolina Jessamine?
In mid-October?
So, I looked it up.

Carolina Jessamine

Bloom Color:
Bright Yellow

Bloom Time:
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer

Uh, apparently my Jessamine is a wee bit confused?
But, whatever the reason, pretty yellow flowers
in 35-60 degree weather are a welcome sight.
Maybe it's just that my Jessamine is so happy being here. :c)

Drumroll....GERD it is!

I had an appointment with my PCP Friday morning to discuss the symptoms I've been having, along with the incident of the laryngospasm. He listened and took notes as I spoke, with a slight smile on his face. "Yes, indeed, it fully sounds like GERD," said the nice Dr. H. He went on to say that upwards of 60% of people who have GERD don't have the really bad acid reflux up into the back of the throat, and some have no symptoms at all... well, at least that they think are GI related in any way. The constant clearing of the throat is a biggie. I had no clue that it can also cause the bloating and crampiness that I've been having as well.

He told me, "I can send you to a gastroenterologist to get scoped, but that will be expensive, and they'll tell us what we pretty much already know, and so we'll start with suppressing the acid." I had told him I had been taking OTC Prilosec 20mg since the incident on the 6th, and he said, "Omeprazole is a perfectly great proton pump inhibitor, but you'll need more than 20mg." He wrote a prescription for 40mg generic capsules, which cost me all of $16 for a 90 day supply! "If you are not significantly better in four weeks, come back to see me, and we'll discuss Plan B." Have I mentioned how much I like my PCP?

So, I am on the medication and hoping for great results, and hoping for no more episodes of the laryngospasms. I wished I'd gone to see him sooner, as I've had the GI upset for quite a few months now. I'll continue to watch my diet, stay away from the nuts, and hope to feel like a different person in a few short weeks.

The Gift of Love

We will be singing this lovely anthem on Sunday at church.
As we were practicing it last week, I noticed hardly anyone
but me singing that second verse. Hmmmm... it was then that
I noticed everyone smiling as they said, "Jayne can do the solo!"
Gulp. Me? Uh... OK. So I shall. We'll see if "making a
joyful noise" will be sufficient. :c)

Enjoy this nice version by the choir at Strathroy United Church
and send all good vibes my way for a steady voice?

Three days down

Well, I've worked for the past three days at a new job in a Wound Center in a nearby town which is actually closer than my old job. They are a relatively new center, having opened in December of 2007, and now are expanding to add two additional exam rooms (taking them to a total of 6) and starting a hyperbaric medicine program. Their two chambers were delivered last week. As you might imagine, they were thrilled at the prospect of having someone with 11 years of hyperbaric experience and wound care to join them. I will be working on a PRN basis, as I am back on my husband's insurance and don't need the benefits. I've told them M-W-F would be lovely for me.

Their system of charting is much different, and so it will take some time to get comfortable with it, however, they are going to electronic charting within a few months, and so will have laptops with touch screen capability in each exam room for real time, easy, breezy documentation. I jumped right in with both feet, as is my tendency, and I learned rather quickly what their routine and flow is there. I really like all the staff and adore the dedication of the MD that is there most of the time.

I've been really tired in the evenings as I am not used to working 8-5 on my feet. I was leaving at 2PM at my last job to go pick up Sam. Since we worked hard this summer in getting him comfortable in staying alone, his wonderful parapro is now bringing him home in the afternoons around 3:30 and then husband and I get home around 5:15-5:30. It worked out well this week, and I was proud of my boy, adjusting to the change.

So, all in all, it's been a great experience, and fully reaffirmed to me that my leaving my last job was fully the best thing I could have done. Onward we'll go...

So, what DO you like?

I was driving down the road the other day and saw a billboard advertising
some new iced tea you can buy by the gallon. The thing is, every time I see
this billboard, I think that the coloring is all off, and instead of tea, it looks
like tomato juice on that billboard! Shivers. It got me to thinking about
things I really don't like, so shall we start with tomato juice at the top of the list?

1. Tomato Juice (make me drink a Bloody Mary and I'll upchuck)

2. Haunted Houses -Yes, it's that time of year again, and this year,
a local charity is doing one in a former mortuary. I do not like to be scared. Period.

3. Amusement park rides that twirl and go upside down- Nope, won't get me on them!

4. Celery- I think this stems from when I was a kid and my mom tried to get us
to "eat healthier." I detest the consistency of it, the smell... just about everything.

5. Shopping for clothes- I absolutely hate trying to find something to wear.
Throw me into someplace like T J Maxx and I'll become insane.
Nope, I am not a "browser" or "hunter."

6. Returning things- I really hate having to return things. I'd just
as soon find someone else who can use it then have to trudge back
to Lowe's to return a $2 switch that was the wrong size.

7. Rap music -Don't "get" it and don't care to try.

8. Waiting to eat at a restaurant- If there is more than a 5 or 10
minute wait, I'm out of there!

9. Expensive watches- I've never understood the rationale for
spending $ on a wrist watch. I am so hard on watches, that
anything other than a $25 Timex from Walmart is ridiculous.

10. High heels- My poor feet are so accustomed to the Dansko
sole, that when I do have to wear heels, it's excruciating.

So, there! That's a good start....lol!

A meal worth savoring

We do not "do dinner out" that often.

So, when we do, we try to go some place we've never been.

Oh. My.

Saturday night we went to a new place in downtown City by the River

and it was... well, I am out of adjectives.

Do you ever have a meal that is so wonderful that you just

keep saying over and over again, "Boy, that was so good!"?

This new eatery uses the Italian way of cooking in a brick oven.

I chose to eat the Wood-fired Pork Shoulder with a balsamic sauce

served with Gala Apples, and can I just admit that each time I took a bite,

I just sat there for a bit chewing as the bliss covered my face?

They cook this pork for 24 hours in the brick oven and it's fork tender.

It was served with the apples and new potatoes and we also got a side

of Wood-fired Shiitake Mushrooms to share. Nirvana.

We ended with hubby eating their Tiramisu while we enjoyed two extraordinary coffees.

Oh, yes.. we'll be back.

Hubby has a birthday coming up, and I know what I'll have!

Pulling the weeds

This weekend, husband and I spent hours pulling weeds, weed eating, and cutting grass... at our neighbor's house. Yes, you read that correctly. Next door at our neighbor's house... or I should say, former neighbors. When Renee and Joe (names changed, of course) moved in during the spring of 2007, we were thrilled. The house had been empty for almost a year, and because the former owner was very motivated to sell, they got a really good price. They had a cute 9 month old baby, and were as sweet as can be. But, it was not long before we realized that, in many ways, they had bitten off more than they could chew. Within months of moving in, a For Sale sign went up. I called Renee to chat and she told me that, "Well, we are realizing that we pretty much only live in the lower level of the house, and well... maybe we should have found something a bit smaller and closer to family." Along with that revelation came the realization that Joe was not the most motivated yard person. The grass would grow sometimes a foot high before he'd reluctantly get out there and mow the yard. His excuse was that his tractor needed to be repaired and so he always had to go pick up his father in law's mower. Uh-huh. Most of us on the street were understanding and patient, as everyone liked Renee and Joe, but it rankled to no end that they did not seem to care if the weeds were knee deep in their beds, or the grass looked like a jungle.

They never were able to sell the home, and finally took the sign down. Joe seemed to also have a hard time holding a job and more often than not, he was "always looking for something else." Renee went back to finish up her real estate license, but with the housing market like it's been, she finally decided to try and go back to school and get a nursing degree. During this time, Joe was out of work for months apparently, and so it was with sadness that I read her email to me a couple of weeks ago telling me that they'd lost their home and would have to move. Within a week, they were packing up on a rainy Saturday to move to a small rented town home. I went over to see them on moving day and to let them know that they needed to remember that this time in their lives does not define them, and that soon, they'd be on an upright path once again.

Well, off they went, and there it was. That mess of a yard. Now, it's one thing to have to tolerate it when someone is actually living there, and fully another to let it be that way empty. So, husband and I agreed, we'd go over and remedy the mess. Friday afternoon, the weed pulling commenced. I can not describe to you the weeds in their front beds. I initially thought that the foot high stuff was along the edging in the front and was just leaning over into the beds. Uh, no. It was all in the beds. I have never seen anything like the neglect I saw, and wondered how on earth they walked out each day, saw that, and felt it was OK. Truly. Was there no pride left? What about respect for your neighbors? It was a nightmare, and I was unsure if I'd even be able to stand upright on Saturday. We loaded up four wheelbarrows full to take to the back tree line. Weeds. Just weeds. Mostly tall crabgrass. I just kept shaking my head. We lost light and husband needed oil mix for his trimmer, so the plan was to finish on Saturday, but it rained most of the morning, and so we finished yesterday afternoon. You can now actually see the edging, and the difference is simply amazing. It was really hard work, but I hope it pays off in attracting a new home buyer once the bank turns it over to a real estate company. At least we can hope it sells and at the very least, will no longer have such an eyesore on the street.

Meme for the day

A fun, thoughtful meme borrowed from my dear friend, Anne!

1.) On average, how often do you splurge and buy something for yourself?

Truthfully, not that often... well, unless you count downloading books onto my Kindle!

2.) Are you more like Hall or Oates? Just kidding. Real question: What is the last creative project you began/finished? Feel free to post a pic of it.

I do not have a hobby or craft that I create things in, but I do find that I thoroughly enjoy picking out bouquets from the store and arranging them for my kitchen table. (Currently on the kitchen table seen below.)


3.) OK, Goldie Locks, do you consider your house too big, too little or juuust right?

Well... considering we more than doubled our square footage from our previous home, it's big. But, big in a good way.... unless it's cleaning day, and then it's waaaaaay too big!

4.) What is your favorite outdoor chore?

Uh... does filling the bird feeders count? For the record, I think there's a special room in hell where you rake for eternity and the leaves keep falling, and you have painful blisters on your palms that never heal. Yep, that is enough motivation for me to be reeeeally good here in this life.


5) If you knew that cigarette smoking was not bad for your health but would be a weight loss tool, would you use it? Why or why not?

It stinks, it discolors everything, and blech....no.

6.) On a road trip, would you rather drive or ride?

I'd rather ride and observe... and snooze if so inclined!

7.) What do you consider a trivial pursuit?

Thinking that we are really in control of things.... yep, reminds me of the saying, "Know how to make God laugh? Tell him your plans."

8.) This weekend we downloaded the movie "Duplicity" with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Within 5 minutes I was bored and annoyed, but I kept watching 5-10 minutes at a time hoping it would get better between small chores. I finally gave up and Jorge watched it alone, and then regretted wasting that time because he disliked it intensely, too. So... how long do you watch a movie or read a book before giving up on it?

With a movie, probably 15-20 minutes or so (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest was the last one... course I had not seen the first one), and with a book... well, that's harder. I usually try to go on and see if it starts to hook me. I once read a book that I pretty much hated and yet could not put down to the end. I am sure many people loved She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, and even though the main character made me laugh a good bit, I got to the end and realized how much I regretted reading the entire book and how I wished after the fact, I had just put it down.


9.) Is there a song that you really love but are embarrassed to admit because it's not cool or it's racy or because it's by Hall and Oates?

OK, I once went to a concert by Air Supply and was able to sing along to all the songs!

10.) On a scale of 1-10 (10-extremely) how spontaneous are you?

Sadly, not nearly as much as I'd like to be, and that's probably because autism has dictated we are a regimented family? I'd give myself a 2 or 3?

11.) Are you a food and/or beverage snob?

Well, I am a coffee snob for sure. No coffee is better than bad coffee for me. And yet, I can't say exactly what attributes I like in my coffee, but my taste buds know what I like. Currently, it's Dunkin Donuts Original Blend.

12.) Who/What are you trying to control in your life? (I hear people gulping and see them sweating in anticipation of how to answer this one).

Well, truthfully, I am back to trying to control the food. My eating has been terrible lately, and I find that I am falling back into old habits. Each day I tell myself I need to get a grip, and yet...

I know how I need to eat in order to feel in control and healthy, but something is keeping me from buckling the seat belt. Food has always been an adversary, and a difficult opponent for me.

Early fall on Chickadee

Here in Northwest Georgia, we are just starting
to see the beginnings of fall color...
I can't wait for the full explosion!

It's all in the family

On Tuesday, I was sitting at a quaint bookstore/cafe, enjoying their daily special, which that day happened to be a cup of seafood bisque and a ham sandwich. I was chattering away with the director of the Wound Center where I will be working starting next week. We had a limited amount of time, and so we were catching up since we last saw one another at the end of last month, and discussing my experiences in the hospital orientation. All of a sudden, I felt it. A sensation that was familiar. I had just swallowed some tea so there was no food in my mouth or throat. But, there it was... my throat had closed up and I felt as if I were choking. I could not breathe through my mouth, nor could I speak.

Now, if this had been the first time this has happened to me, I would have panicked, which I sort of did a year ago, jumping up to let those around me know I was in trouble, and having the Heimlich Maneuver performed on me. But, this time, I decided to think through it. Easier said than done, but the director was talking and my desire not to pass out, or cause a scene there at lunch with her further motivated me to calm myself. I instantly told my brain to try and breathe through my nose, and found I could, easily. "So, you can breathe and therefore you are NOT choking," I said to myself silently as I continued to listen to her talk across the table. What she said, I have no clue, but the ability to breathe was all I needed to slow myself down and let the sensation pass. And, after about a minute, it did. Once it did pass, and I tried to speak, it was the kind of voice you have when something goes down the wrong way. I coughed, cleared my throat a few times, and took a sip of tea. It went down fine. Whew. My eyes were watering, and I must say, that pretty much was it for me in terms of finishing my soup and sandwich. My director never knew what had just transpired.

As soon as I got home that day, I began thinking about the episode and the facts. I felt as if I were choking, yet could breathe through my nose. The nurse in me started to deduce the possibilities. Spasms of my esophagus? Googled it. Nope. Pain. That causes a mighty good bit of pain. Hmmmm. Throat closed up, no voice. Aha. Larynx? Spasm of my larynx? Ding, ding, ding. Symptoms matched up perfectly. But the potential cause is what made me smile knowingly.

What causes laryngospasm?

Laryngospasm is related to gastroesophageal reflux (GER). GER is a condition that occurs when the ring-like muscle that normally closes to keep the stomach's contents from backing up doesn't work right. With GER, harsh acids from the stomach rise up into the esophagus and cause irritation. Regular exposure to stomach acids can damage and inflame the delicate lining of the esophagus. This damage can lead to momentary spasms of the vocal cords, which close the airway and prevent air and oxygen from getting into the lungs. When stomach acids reach the larynx, the condition is called laryngopharyngeal reflux or LPR. The tissues of the larynx are even more delicate and prone to injury than the esophagus.

For the past weeks, I have been having really pronounced GI symptoms of bloating, fullness, and discomfort and had been using TUMS constantly. I chalked it up to some irritability related to all the stress, and stopped eating so many almonds (which I was snacking on nightly, and which I found are huge trigger foods --nuts-- for GERD as well as IBS), started eating some Activia yogurt, and also started using some Prilosec. Things seemed to be getting some better, but the symptoms had not fully subsided. Let's see... my grandmother had GERD, my mom has GERD, my sister has GERD, and we found out early this year, Sam has issues with GERD as well. I think the deck is stacked against me? :c)

One of the other things I read when researching laryngospasm is that it typically occurs when talking while eating....duh. And, I read that one technique to help the muscles relax is to... yes.... breathe slowly through the nose. So, thankfully, I thought it through before I panicked and passed out at lunch with my new director. Still, it was scary as all heck. You truly do feel as if you are going to die, as you can't breathe or speak, or cough. And, yes, I did call my family physician and have an appointment to see him next week. Too much knowledge can sometimes be a bad thing, but I'd like to think that in this instance, it helped me remain calm, and then figure out what the heck happened. GERD.... it's all in the family, and now, will be my turn to manage.

The buds are coming back!

Yesterday, Sam and I went to see the double feature of
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D! It was so much fun!
For the price of one, you get two movies, remastered in 3D,
and some really fun trivia in the 10 minute intermission.
But, it's only playing for one more week, so hurry!

The new Toy Story 3 will be released June 18, 2010 and will
also be in 3D. It was so good to see Woody, Buzz, and the
gang again. We adore these wonderful movies and Sam
was in heaven beside me, sporting his glasses and a grin.

Soaring high

Not a day goes by here in the country end of the county that
we don't see vultures soaring high on the thermals.
They are so very graceful as they circle overhead,
and every now and again, I can get lucky and get a good
view through my lens of their beautiful silver underwings.

Give 'em the pickle!

This week I am attending new employee orientation at an area hospital so that I can work PRN in their Wound Care Center. I have to say, that coming from a 700 bed Level 1 Trauma Center to this 220 bed facility has been an eye opening experience thus far. Today, the Guest Services Director told the story of Bob Farrell and how customer service has been the backbone of his restaurant's success. He travels around giving other companies his philosophy about customer service. So simple, and yet.... so powerful and true, and one that this facility has embraced.

Here are the principles:

Service
Make serving others your #1 Priority. You work
in a noble profession, be proud of what you do.
Attitude
Choose your Attitude. How you think about your
customers, is how you will treat them.
Consistency
Set high standards, and stick to them. Customers
return because they like what happened last time.
Teamwork
Look for ways to make each other look good. In the end,
everything ends up in front of the customer!

At the end of her presentation, she gave each of us a small "pickle lapel pin" to remind us that we are there to serve our guests and no matter what, we can always find a way to "just give 'em the pickle!" Boy, it's nice to be in an environment where they don't just talk the talk.

Jewels in the sun

The sun was setting in the western sky...
and there I was, at the exact moment in time
when it pierced the golden spires of the Zebra grass...
casting beautiful shimmering jewels in the sun.

Flutterby fall colors

I saw this beautiful little one on the May Knight Salvia
and knew it was a Sulphur, but could not decide which one.
The coloration threw me off completely, until I found that
this is the fall variant of the Sleepy Orange.

Tail prop king

I love watching the Red-bellied Woodpeckers at the feeder
and how they use their tails to prop themselves at the suet.
This guy thoroughly enjoyed the Bark Butter I slathered on
top of the suet cake.

Cheese with that whine?

Husband and I were out on the deck, when I started whining (insert whiny voice)
"It's so not fair! Betsy already has Rose-breasted Grosbeaks migrating back through
to her feeders in Crossville, and I've not had ONE all spring or summer long!"

I promptly returned to reading my Kindle and enjoying the wonderful
cool breeze of the early evening out on the deck.... man, I love this time of year.

Suddenly, I looked to my left out at the feeders....and laughed out loud.
There, staring at me was a juvenile male!
I conjured him with my whining?
Since then, I've had two of them coming together.

Then, in a chorus of early evening snacking, the Bluebird
and a young Cardinal male joined him at the feeders.
A colorful arrangement, to be sure.

"OK woman, let me pose one last time so you can
prove that you saw me and my soon-to-be rose
colored breast on Chickadee!"

Fortifying for the journey

Most of the older boys have pretty much gone,
and it won't be long before they all need to head South for the winter.
It is barely 50 degrees here this morning.
I wonder when they know that "today is the day"
and what sort of courage and knowing that takes?